KAALtv.com

Van Gundy lauds Clips; Lakers not ’tied together’

(AP) NEW YORK - Jeff Van Gundy will see both Los Angeles teams on Christmas, and for now he likes the Clippers much better.

Van Gundy also ranks New York ahead of Miami at this point, with everyone looking up at Oklahoma City as the NBA heads toward its marquee holiday schedule.

ESPN will show five games that day on its networks, and Van Gundy will call two of them with partner Mike Breen from Staples Center. The Lakers host the New York Knicks in ABC’s first broadcast of the season, and the Clippers will face Denver in the nightcap on ESPN.

Van Gundy says the Clippers have played "outstanding basketball," while the Lakers aren’t as healthy and "just haven’t played well, haven’t played with the enthusiasm of a team that’s truly tied together."